Surpin

Hi everyone,

I was considering to purchase a quick, versatile flat bar hybrid bike, to be equipped with a back rack and bags, for home-work/free time/city errands commutes. I test rode the Specialized Sirrus (not the X line, which I didn't like) and it impressed me: I found it extremely comfortable and agile, possibly perfect for the purpose.
I have some good deals for both the 2.0 and the 3.0 models. The main differences are a steel fork and 2x8 speeds on the first, with a weight of 12 kg, while a carbon fork and 2x9 speeds on the second, for a 10.7 kg weight.

On the bike I would carry a heavy load (a 10-12 kg backpack and 6-7 kg on the back rack bags) and, considering I should also add the rack, the bags and a bike lock, I was wondering how much that 1.3 kg gain in weight of the 3.0 is worth to be considered.

Furthermore, I also have some doubts about the carbon fork. It would surely offer a pleasant ride, but I was thinking that I'd have to lock up the bike around in various places and that it could be beaten up a bit in the process. Would a carbon fork be inadequate for this kind of use, which hence involves small lateral impacts and rubbings? Would I have to always hanlde the bike with maximum care?

Other than that, at times, on my way back home, when I don't have the backpack, I stop at the market and load some heavy groceries bags on the handlebar of the bike, hanging them on both sides, without using the rack bags as the weight is considerable and I control it better on the front; do you think for such use I should opt for the steel fork?

Thank you and apologize me if such doubts are trivial!

In any case, I really did like the Sirrus and feel convinced about it, I am though being quite undecided between those two models, for these reasons.

Iride01 

Bike frames made with other materials like steel and aluminum have come with carbon forks for a long time. Not all but not a few either. Indeed we have had carbon bikes for many years.

If I knew I was going to drill all kinds of holes in my fork to make a drillium piece of artwork or whack at it with a hatchet, I might consider the steel fork. But if I have no specific intentions, I wouldn't care. The overall and other specific things about the bike will always be way higher on the list.

Kontact 

Carbon disc forks have to be so stiff for braking that the ride will be no better than the steel fork. It will just be lighter, but a lot of that weight difference is also in the components.

I don't think the weight savings will be worthwhile considering the loads you're carrying.

Maelochs

I'd opt for the 2x9 and the CF fork would just be a bonus.

terrymorse 

Well, as a general guideline, a rigid fork is a poor place to go looking for ride comfort. Disc or rim brake fork, it doesn't really matter much.

Tire width and pressure are your friends for comfort.

Darth Lefty 

It wouldn't be determinant. Honestly they aren't differentiated enough for one to be much more exciting than the other. What color do you like?

Kontact 

The nice thing about the introduction of aluminum and then carbon forks was that you could ride whatever tires you wanted and still get a much more comfortable ride than the steel forks of that era. It was often dramatically obvious.

Now it isn't.